PHUKET'S Roy Music Festival is being viewed as a success. And it appears there's another positive springing from the way the event was policed.

One female Russian tourist and several Thais in the audience at Karon beach became victims of pick-pockets, who stole items from purses and bags at the first concert on Friday night.

In tears, the Russian woman reported the theft to local volunteers who were providing security, along with the Royal Thai Navy, at the event.

Karon people protested in public earlier this year about the number of robberies in the area. Police in neighboring Chalong responded by saying that they were under-staffed, along with stations all over the island.

In an effort to improve security for July's international Asean summit of foreign affairs ministers as well as reduce crime, Governor Wichai Praisa-nob introduced his ''1000 eyes of the pineapple'' scheme.

In practice, this meant that volunteers in Karon were trained by the Army's Internal Security Operations Command to function as a security unit at events involving crowds.

Walkie-talkies are used to communicate and report back.

Within two hours of the reports of stolen wallets, cameras and cell phones, local volunteers had made three arrests.

Accused of theft are Vitaya Kahapana, 30, Racheck Italal, 25, and Nanusak Kobthong, 20, all from Cherng Talay in central Phuket.

The next event that usually attracts crowds and pick-pockets is the Vegetarian Festival, from October 18-26.

Phuketwan has first hand experience (perhaps we should rephrase that) having had a wallet stolen at last year's event. Officers at Phuket City police headquarters recorded it as a case of ''lost property.''

There was a cheerful ending, or at least an ending that demonstrated the honesty of most of Phuket's citizenry.

The wallet was found on the ground outside a temple by a Phuket woman. She organised its return, with everything intact except for the cash, and declined to accept a reward.

Unfortunately by that stage, the credit cards had all been cancelled, and a driver's licence replaced.